Sound operated circuit controller



Feb. 9, 1932. A. B. DU MONT H 198449117 SOUND OPERATED CIRCUIT CONTROLLER Filed Feb. 4, 1926 m; 5/ 35 m 2m FIG--3- Fig.4] mg I I, l 25 20 FIGS nil-IE 33 32 mm 97 6 WIIAWJIAWIIIM Patented Feb. 9, 1932 PATENT OFFICE ALLEN IB. DU MONT, OF MONTGLAIB, NEW ERSEY SOUND OPERATED CIRCUT'I' CONTROLLER Application filed February 4, 1923. Serial No. 86,077.

The extensive use of radio receiving sets and the great variety of subjects broadcast brings about a condition whereby a listener does not always find it agreeable to hear a progression of subjects. For example, a

popular musical selection may be pleasing but a subsequent talk on fashions may be undesirable, or vice versa'. However, it often happens that the broadcasting of a particular station is desirable with the exception of a few ofthe numbers on the program. If under these conditions a listener is occupied or comfortably seated he must arise and either switch off the set or turn to a different station.

The necessity of physical effort and a certain amount of inconvenience is thus required in turning olf the current to terminate the reception of an undesirable broadcasted subject. 7 The present invention, however, provides a means whereby a radio set may be rendered operative or inoperative from a remote point by the creation of a given sound, as by the proper impact or clapping 'of the hands, thus making it possible, if desirable, to terminate the broadcasting while seated at a distant point. At a later time when it is known that the program has advanced to a point where the subject is pleasing, the operation of the clapping the hands. I

The present device is controlled by a soundoperated circuit breaker but, where as heretofore such devices were used to cause a movement of various-bodies or the actuation ofan electrical device, they. were not to my knowledge so constructed as to operate reversely, that is to say, to cause the closing as well as the opening of a circuit, nor could devices as heretofore provided operate in one direction only as is possible in the present invention.

The application of the present invention to a radio set is, of course, only one example of its use but it illustrates the desirability of being able to operate the set both ways by creation of sound pulsations or waves.

receiving set may again be continued by circuit; The device may be adjusted to open I The device may also be employed for lighting a lamp, as upon entering a dark room, without groping for a switch or in case of an alarm at night a light may be turned on without the operator arising from bed.

In practising my invention I provide a movable armature so arranged as to be normally unaffected by the fields of two electro-magnets. The armature is suspended upon a-resilient support and when moved into the field of a magnet is instantly carried toward a magnet and a sufiicient amount of work is thus performed to flex the resilient support and store energy therein so that when the said magnet releases the armature it may be moved 5 by reason of its potential energy into the field of the opposite magnet. This magnet then acts to cause an opposite flexure of the resilient member and energy is stored preparatory to its release for movement to the other magnet;

This construction results in a quick and positive action of the device which is so constructed that the movement of the resilient member opens and closes a circuit. The electro-magnets are energized by any suitable source of electrical energy and the circuit thereof is controlled by a sound-operated circuit breaker which is afiected by the sound waves caused by a proper impact of the hands. This causes an instantaneous break in the circuit and .a consequent deenergization of the electro-magnets. A release of the armature then results and it moves to an opposite magnet which in the meantime has become energized and secures the armature there- 'against. A repetition of the impacts will obviously result in opening or closing of a given or close a circuit and so remain unaffected by subsequent sound waves as will be pointed out more fully hereinafter. I

' The invention may be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which 7 o 7 Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of an embodiment of my invention as applied to the filament circuit of a radio set.

Fig. 2 isia perspectiveview of the device and showsthe same as a complete unit.

Fig. 3 is a front View of the sound-operated circuit breaker. 4

Fig. 4 is an edge view of the circuit breaker shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view showmg a flexible member and its relation to an electromagnet carried on a supporting base, and

Fig.6 is a modified form of a sound-actuated circuit breaker.

As an example of one use of my invention I have shown its application to a radio receiving set or instrument which in the drawings is indicated by the reference numeral 15. Conductors 16 and 17 leading from the set provide for the passage of filament current for the radio tubes in the usual manner, the conductor 17 leading directly to a source of electrical energy supplied by battery 18. For the purpose of terminating the operation of the tubes, and consequently the set, my device may be interposed between the battery 18 and the conductor 16 and inasmuch as the present device constitutes a remotely controlled switch an operation thereof will make or break the filament circuit.

All the operative construction may be contained in a box or casing 20 as a convenient unit for use in connection with any circuit and may include a soundoperated circuit breaker 19 of the suitable type. The circuit breaker shown consists of a plate 21 suspended bya hinged connection 22 mounted on a wall of the box 20. An edge of the plate 21 may be bent to provide a narrow contact surface .23 (See Fig. 4) normally disposed across and serving as a conductor between conducting wires 24 and 25 leading to the battery 18 and a variable resistance 26, respectively. The resistance is provided so that either dry cells or a storage battery may be used. By reason of the variable resistance the sensitivity of the device may be changed oras hereinafter described the resistance serves'to convert the device to a one-way operation.

The plate 21 is respo'nsive to the vibrations imparted to the wall of the box upon which it is mounted when sound waves areproduced by proper clapping of the hands causing the contact surface 23 to momentarily leave the conductors 24 and 25 thus breaking their connection with the battery to terminate the fiow of energy and thus permit'the operation of a relay and switch to be later described. The sound-actuated switch just described is one of the many types available for the present purpose-and was selected for its simplicity and because it was found to operatesatisfactoril in connection with the present relay and switch.

My relay and switch may comprise a thin flexible metallic strip 30, (see Fig. 1) preferably of phosphor-bronze, having one end secured to an upright member 31 positioned upon the surface and adjacent to one end of a hard rubber base board 32 which when in my unit is suitably secured at the bottom of the box 20 and supported on-cushions 21' to prevent the vibration of the switch from disturbing the circuit breaker. The free end of the strip 30 is provided with a steel block 33 which loses its magnetism rapidly. The strip 30 may be positioned edgewise to and above the base board 32 and may be of sufficient strength to support the block 33 leaving the same free to swing or oscillate. At one side of the strip 30 is secured a separate conductive member 34. This member is insulated from the strip 30 by a separator 35 of hard rubber or the like. One end of the conductor 34 is provided with a flexible conductor 36 connected to a binding post 37 at a corner of the base board 32. The opposite end of the member 34 is so disposed that a movement of the strip 30 will cause the member to make contact with a resilient contact member 38 projecting from a post 39. End 41 of the conductive member 34 and the resilient member 38 therefore constitute a switch indicated as a whole by the numeral 42 and it is this switch which is operated to make and'break the filament circuit of the radio set 15 or any other circuit to which the device may be applied. If desirable to operate two different circuits. it is obvious that the switch 42 could be duplicated at the opposite side of the strip 30.

For the purpose of operating the switch 42 a .pair of electro-magnets 43 and 44 are disposed upon opposite sides of the steel block 33 which may be termed an armature. The faces'of the cores of the magnets are in the path of the arcuate movement of the armature and arranged to make even contact therewith. The strip 30 is so positioned that when the armature is in contact with a magnet the strip will have been flexed and thus an amount of internal tension or energy will have been stored on the strip so that when the armature is released it will immediately be moved into the field of attraction of the opposite magnet. This opposite magnetic field will then pull the armature toward it with a consequent fiexure of the strip leaving the armature ready to move the opposite magnet when released. Each movement of the armature and strip will obviously cause an opening or closing of the switch 42.

Energy for the several magnets is supplied I from the battery 18. Assuming the armature to be in contact with magnet 43,,the strip 30 will engage with a Contact pin 46 secured through conductor 51, knife switch 52 and conductor 53. When the armature is against I the magnet 44 the strip 30 makes contact with a contact point 54 in a post 55 having a conductor 56 connected with an end of the -coil of the magnet 44. The opposite end of this coil is connected to the battery 18 by the conductor 51, switch 52 and conductor 53.

When the armature is in the position shown in F1 1 it is neutral and the switch 42 is open reaking the circuit to be controlled.

ing the magnet 43 to release the armature which owing to the potential energy of the strip 30 moves to bring the strip 30 into engagement with the contact point 54 causing a flow of energy through the magnet 44 and bringing the armature into the electromagnStic field of this magnet which draws the armature in contact therewith, it being understood that immediately after the plate 21 has been moved to open the circuit it is returned by gravity to close the circuit again. The electromagnets work to pull the armature against the elastic force of the spring and thus after each actuation of the device the armature is left ready to use its stored energy for the next operation.

If it is desirable to operate the device only one way the variable resistance 26 may be manipulated to put in suflicient resistance so that the armature is just held by a magnet and when released the field of the opposite magnet will not be strong enough to overcome the force of the spring action of the strip 30 and the armature will take a neutral position leaving the switch 42 open. Another way of accomplishing the above is to throw the switch 52 so that the conductor 51 is connected to a conductor 58 putting the circuit breaker in series with the battery circuit so that the current must pass through the switch 42 to operate the magnet 43. When the magnet 43 has released the armature it does not return far enough to close the switch. 42 and thus leaves the battery circuit open.

A modified form of sound-operated circuit breaker is shown in Fig. 6 and may comprise a bell-crank member 61' pivoted at 62, one arm 7 of the bell-crank being provided with a flexible pointer or brush 63- positioned to wipe a concave conductive surface 64 and a nonconductive surface 65. The opposite arm of the bell-crank may be connected-by a rod 65 v to a diaphragm or board 66 subject to vibration under the effect of sound waves produced as by clapping the hands. The conductive portion 64 and bell-crank 61 may beplaced in a circuit by conductors 67 and 68, respectively. Thus when the diaphragm is moved the motion will be translated to and be magnified by the bell-crank causing a movement of the brush 63 from the conductive to the nonconductive surface terminating the flow of" energy resulting-in an operation of a relay and switch to which it may be applied, as for example the one shown in the present invention and above-described. A

The present device may comprise a selfcontained unit applicable to any circuit. This unit may be placed near the apparatus or when used with a radio set the unit may be somewhat removed therefrom so as not to be affected by the sound vibrations of a loud 7 speaker. Ordinarily, however, the sound produced by the speaker is ineffective since sound waves of theproper pitch and intensity resulting from a-clapp'ing of the hands very rarely occur in the speaker.

It has been found desirable tosupport the relay and alsothe unit on cushions or resilient members to prevent vibrations being transmitted through the structure supporting the unit and thus avoid the possibility of accidentally disturbing the plate to actuate the relay.

The present invention provides a useful and novel device for the control of an electrical circuit and when applied to a radio set has an added value by reason of the amusement or satisfaction afl'orded in controlling the broadcasting program.

Although a preferred embodiment-of the invention has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be appreciated that modifications may occur to those skilled in the art, but such modifications are contemplated by me as falling within my invention as defined 5 by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

A means'for controllin an electrical ClIClllt comprising a pairof e ectro-magnets, an armature disposed between said magnets, 1 10 a resilient member for supporting said armature, a switch in said circuit, said member operating to close a switch in said circuit when the armature is held in contact with one of the magnets when energized, means responsive to sound pulsations forde-energizing said magnet to open said switch, said resilient member operating by reason of its potential energy to move said armature into the magnetic field of another magnet for contact therewith preparatory to a return movement to said .first magnet upon another operation of said last-mentioned means when again afiected by sound pulsations. v

2. A relay for operating a switch comprising a pair of electro-magnets, an electrical circuit for each magnet, a source of electrical energy, an armature disposed between and operable upon a flow of electrical energy member supporting said armature, a controlled circuit, means carried by said flexible member for closing said controlled circuit when said member is flexed in one direction, said flexible member operating to close the circuit of one of said magnets to energize the same and maintain said member in a circuit closing position ready to move by reason of its potential energy when the circuit of said energized magnet is broken.

3. A means for controlling an electric circuit comprising a pair of electro-magnets, an

armature disposed between said magnets, a resillent member supportlng said armature, 7

said resilient member being so arranged as to containan amount of potential energy when held against a magnet, a switch in said circuit adapted to be actuated by a movement of said member, ajsound-actuated switch in said circuit for causing a break therein to momentarily de-energize said magnets and release said armature to permit a movement of said resilient member and cause an operation of said first-mentioned switch, said resilient member moving by reason of its potential energy into the magnetic field of the opposite magnet, said forces acting to pull' the armature into contact with said op osite magnet thereby flexing said member and storing energy for a return movement of said armature when released by an actuation of said sound-actuated switch.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th day of J an., 1926.

ALLEN B. DU MQNT. 

